Joseph full of praise for Ford

Joseph was named Man of the Match after the 47-17 win over the Azzurri at Twickenham, with Ford playing a heavy role in the build-up to both scores.

The Bath backs have combined well for England in the first two games of the Six Nations, with Joseph understandably delighted with how things went last weekend.

“I’m over the moon, it’s the greatest feeling," Joseph told the England website.

“I just feel lucky to be in the position I’m in. It’s brilliant to play alongside these boys, the best boys in country. I’m playing with some very talented guys who can put me into space, hopefully I can do the same for them.

“For the first one George [Ford] gave me the ball flat on the line and I got on the outside of one of their players and then I had a two-on-one. I thought I would put Anthony [Watson] away but then the defender went onto Anthony so I had to carry on and run it in.

“And then the second one was all George, he manipulated the defence so well and the hole was absolutely huge, all I had to do was run through it and then dot the ball down.”

Elaborating on his thoughts regarding Ford, Joseph described the 21-year-old's intelligence on the pitch as that of an experienced veteran.

“He’s amazing, more often than not if you’re outside him then he’s going to create something for you. For me, being on the wing, I was just lurking around wherever he was going and making sure I was near him," stated Joseph.

“After playing with him at Bath I did honestly expected him to make the transition to international rugby so quickly. He’s so intelligent on the rugby pitch, he’s got such an old brain on him for a player of his age.”